ASK THE PHARMACIST.

Supplements a help for reformed drinkers

Q. I just quit drinking alcohol--again--this time for good. Now that I'm on the right track, will you help me "clean up" my body? I'm scared of what I've done to it.

--W.N., San Francisco

A. Good for you. Alcohol damages the liver, brain, heart and stomach. These are the areas to focus on, and some nutritional supplements can help. As always, choose quality brands that you feel comfortable with. I will name them quickly due to limited space, but you will need physician supervision and approval.

You also will need a strong social/behavioral and family support system to address the psychosocial aspects of recovery.

Get on a good multivitamin for starters. Add some thiamine (vitamin B-1), folic acid and something called P5P (pyridoxyl-5-phosphate), which is the active form of vitamin B-6. In order to create some metabolic balance in the gastrointestinal tract, you will need milk thistle extract (standardized to 70 to 80 percent silymarin), which can repair and possibly reverse liver damage. It's very safe and well tolerated by most people. Also, you should take a refrigerated brand of lactobacillus probiotic to create normal flora and help you absorb your nutrients.

Moving on: vitamin E (about 800 IUs daily). Vitamin C (1,000 mg per day). These are great antioxidants. If you add another nutrient, alpha lipoic acid (about 100 mg a day), you will get more bang for your buck. There is so much more you can do, but start with these and see how you do.

Q. A friend of mine suffers with hot flashes and her doctor prescribed a medicine called Bellamine. Can you give me some information about it?

--M.B., Pine Knot, Ky.

A. Bellamine also is known as Bellergal. It is a combination of three powerful substances, ergotamine, phenobarbital and belladonna. Before hormone replacement therapy, this combination pill was the drug of choice for women with menopausal symptoms.

Bellamine's most interesting ingredient is belladonna, a plant extract that has hallucinogenic properties and is extremely toxic. Some related compounds of belladonna include atropine (dilates pupils) and scopolamine (the anti-nausea patch).

Bellamine is an older drug and because it is not an estrogen and it has many side effects and interactions, it has fallen out of favor with most docs. It is sometimes ordered for people suffering with hot flashes, mood swings, nervous stomach, restlessness, insomnia and certain headaches.

It can be effective; one just needs to use caution. Don't share it with friends because the drug interacts with a bunch of medications, including heart medications, migraine medicines, tranquilizers and cough and cold preparations.

Did you know?

Applying a piece of cooled raw cabbage leaves to your breasts will help alleviate some of the soreness, engorgement and cracking associated with breast-feeding.